Steam and spray iron



`Fune l2, 1962 A. s. KNAPP STEAM AND SPRAY IRON Filed June 6, 1960 June12, 1962 Filed June 6, 1960 A. S. KNAPP STEAM AND -SPRAY IRON 4Sheets-Sheet 2 /Zoooolonoooo By@ Vzwm M 147' TURA/EVS.

June 12, 1962 A. s. KNAPP 39038269 STEAM AND SPRAY IRON Filed June 6,1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V NTO/P.

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@im mfp/imm States *arent @ffice 3,638,269 Patented June l2, 19623,038,269 STEAM AND SPRAY IRON Andrew S. Knapp, St. Louis, Mo., assignorto Knapp- Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of DelawareFiled .lune 6, 196i), Ser. No. 34,196 7 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) Thisinvention relates to an improved steam iron and more particularlyrelates to an iron from whence water may be sprinkled onto the materialto be ironed during use of the iron either for dry ironing or steamironing.

The desirability of sprinkling water on articles to be ironed prior tothe ironing process has', of course, been known for many, many years.Although the use of steam irons in recent years provides an improvedmeans for ironing of certain goods, nevertheless it has been observedthat the prior sprinkling of water on the article to be ironed, whetherthe article is to be dry-ironed or steam-ironed, is frequently adesirable procedure.

Others have heretofore suggested the use of a steam iron to bothsprinkle water on the article to be ironed and to produce steam for thesteam-ironing operation. In such prior devices, the generation of steamwithin the steam generator portion of the iron is utilized to provideIthe pressure necessary to force the spray of water outwardly from theiron to effect sprinkling. The use of a pressurized fluid and gas systemto effect sprinkling from a spray iron poses many dicult productionproblems Aand results in a rather complex steam iron. Furthermore, it isimpossible to sprinkle from such a steam iron until suilicient steampressure has been generated, and at the beginning of an ironingoperation it takes a substantial period of time before the initial steamis generated. Still further, the pressure available for spraying waterfrom the iron is apparently a function of the steam pressure generated,and it will be appreciated that the steam pressure available will likelyvary from time to time.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide a steam iron with meansfor spraying water therefrom, wherein it is not necessary to generatesteam in the iron, in order to be able to sprinkle water therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steam iron withsprinkle means therein, wherein it is possible 'to sprinkle watertherefrom at any time, without having to wai-t for the generation ofsteam pressure within the iron.

A further object of this' invention is to provide a steam iron withwater sprinkling means therein wherein the pressure on the water beingsprinkled from the iron is independent of the pressure of the steam inthe steam generator of the iron.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a steam iron withsprinkle means therein, which iron is characterized by the simplicity ofconstruction and control and by its efficiency of operation.

The foregoing objects are achieved generally by the use of a simplemechanical pump and spray `means for selectively pumping water from awater reservoir in the iron and for spraying the water forwardly of thesoleA Such a system has the desirable feaplate of the iron. ture ofsimplicity of construction and corresponding reliability andserviceability.

While, in the instant development, a water reservoir for the sprinklermay be provided independent of the w-ater reservoir for the steamgenerator, in the preferred form disposed herein it is intended that asingle water reservoir supply both the -steam generator and thesprinkler means.

It is always desirable to have advance knowledge that the supply ofwater in the reservoir of a steam iron requires replenishing. it isthus, a further object of this invention to utilize the combination ofthe mechanical pump means and the steam reservoir as a test means toadvise the user of the steam iron when the water in the water reservoirneeds replenishing. The latter object is achieved by having the pumpmeans positioned to draw water fromthe water reservoir at a point where,when 'the water level is low, such information will be noted by thefailure of the pump means to effect sprinkling of water from the iron.

While sprinkle means for irons have heretofore been associated only withsteam irons because of the utilization of steam pressure therein toeffect -sprinkling of water from the iron, it will be seen that thesprinkle means herein disclosed may be used with irons that are not usedas steam irons. Thus, still another object of this invention is toprovide an iron with sprinkle means therefor, so that a sprinklingoperation may be combined with a dry-ironing operation in a singledevice.

The number of controls for a steam iron having sprinkling means thereingets to be rather substantial. There must be a control to select eithersteam or dry operation, a control to selectively operate the sprinklingmeans, and a control for selecting the temperature of the irons soleplate. In order to provide an eflicient device, the controls should belocated closely adjacent each other and in a location to be convenientlyoperated by the hand that is moving the iron.

Thus, another object of this invention is to provide a steam iron withsprinkle means wherein the manual controls for the steam operation andwater sprinkling operation are conveniently located closely adjacenteach other lon the irons handle means, and wherein such closely adjacentmanual controls require only push button operation.

Still a yfurther object of this invention is to provide an improvedremote control means for a thermostat for an irons sole plate.

And another object of this invention is to provide improved manualremote control means for the thermostat for an irons sole plate whichpermits of positioning of said manual temperature control closelyadjacent other controls essential for the operation of the steam iron.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal axial cross-section view FIGURE 5 is avertical, axial, cross-section view ofy the pump and spray of thesprinkling means for the iron of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5A is an enlarged cross-section view showing the rear side of thespray disc portion of the spray nozzle and is taken substantially online SA-SA of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the sole plate subassembly;

FIGURE 6A is a bottom plan view of the sole plate;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan View of the water reservoir sub-assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the cover shell;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan View of the handle moulding with sprinkler pumpsub-assembly attached and with control cover panel removed;

p aoaaaea FIGURE l is a bottom plan view of the handle moulding shown inFIGURE 9 with the temperature control attached; and

FIGURE ll is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the rear endof the handle of FIGURES 9 and 10.

Referring now to the drawings, the improved steam and spray iron isgenerally indicated at 10 in FIGURE l, and it will be understood thatthe steam iron itself is formed from a number of sub-assemblies whichare shown in greater detail in later figures in the drawings.

The steam iron includes a sole plate that is generally indicated at 12and is more clearly shown in plan in FIGURES 6 and 6A, a sheet metalcover shell that is generally indicated at 14 and is more clearly shownin plan in FIGURE 8, a water reservoir that is generally indicated at 16and is more clearly shown in plan in FIGURE 7, and a handle assemblythat is generally indicated at 18 and is more clearly shown in plan andperspective in FIGURES 9, l0 and ll.

The handle assembly 18 is so shaped and arranged as to detachablyreceive therein a moulded control cover panel, or housing part, that isgenerally indicated at 20 and is seen in perspective in FIGURE 4.Further, there is provided a removable name plate shield which isgerierally indicated at 22 in FIGURE l and which overlies and concealsthe assembly bolt that is utilized to secure the various sub-assembliestogether.

Referring now specifically to the sole plate 12, it will be understoodthat the sole plate is a casting and is shown to have a pointed toe 30and a blunt heel 32. A heater element 34 is imbedded in the casting ofthe sole plate, in a manner that is well known in the art, and theheater element 34 is arranged to extend alongside and inwardly of thelateral edges of the sole plate 12, so as to substantially uniformlyheat the entire sole plate. The forward half of the sole plate, as seenon the right of FIG- URE 6, is provided with a cover plate 36 that issecured to the upper side of the sole plate casting 12, and whichcooperates with certain recessed portions therebelow to define asteam-generating chamber, or cavity, 38 into which water may becontrollably dispensed for the purposes of generating steam within thechamber 38 upon contact of the water with the heated sole plate.

The sole plate, in combination with the cover 36, also defines agenerally arcuately extending channel 40 which, it will be understood,communicates with the steam-generating chamber 38 to receive steamtherefrom; and the under side of sole plate 12 is provided with aplurality of arcuately disposed steam-delivery apertures 42 whichcommunicate with the steam channel 40, as can best be seen by referenceto FIGURE l. The cover plate 36 is provided with an upstanding annularstud 44 having an upwardly facing frusto-conical seat for purposes ofcooperation with the water-delivery means of the water reservoirhereinafter described.

Positioned on the sole plate 12, in close heat-sensing relationtherewith, is a pre-assembled, totally enclosed, thermostaticallycontrolled switch unit generally indicated at 46, the details of whichare well known in the art and need not be described in detail herein.The thermostatically controlled switch 46 is, in part, retained inposition by a sheet metal strap 48 which overlies switch 46, and theends of strap 48 are secured by screws 49 to the sole plate 12. Theswitch 46 includes an upwardly extending control shaft 50 for thepurposes of selectively controlling the setting of the thermostat, andthe upper end of shaft 50 is splined for a purpose that will appearhereinafter. A lower portion of shaft 50 carries thereon a ring 52having radially extending, and arcuately spaced, arms 54 and 55 whichare adapted to cooperate with an upstanding stop pin 56 that is carriedby switch 46 and which is arranged to limit the range of rotation of thecontrol shaft t?.

The means for energizing the heater 34 includes an electric lead 58connected at one end to heater 34 and carrying a tapped terminal 59 atits other end. A second lead 60 is provided carrying a tapped terminal61, and this lead 60 connects to one terminal 46a of the thermostat`switch 46 and a second terminal 4611 of thermostat switch 46 connectsby lead 62 to the other end of heater 34, Thus, there is provided asimple energizing circuit for the iron including the thermostaticallycontrolled switch 46 interposed in series with the heater 34. The tappedterminals 59 and 61 are adapted to extend upwardly through passagewaysprovided in the handle means, as hereinafter described, so that theleads of a service cord may be connected thereto.

The sole plate 12 is provided thereon with pairs of formed horizontallands 64 and 65 which are bounded on `their inner edges with uprightadjacent shoulders 64a and 65a, and a land 66 adjacent the toe 30 thatis bounded adjacent its inner edge with an upright shoulder 66a. Thelands arid shoulders are for the purpose of receiving thereon the covershell 14 shown in FIGURE 8.

There is also provided a tapped hole 68 adapted to receive an assemblybolt, as hereinafter described, and the rear end of the sole plate isprovided with a rigidly mounted bracket 70 having an upstanding arm 72with a horizontal tab 72a adapted to supportingly cooperate with thewater reservoir, as hereinafter described.

The water reservoir 16, shown in plan in FIGURE 7 and in cross-sectionin FIGURE 1, is a hollow, generally watertight, body having a bottomhorizontal plate and a formed upper plate 82 of inverted cup form, theedges of plates 80 and 82 being joined at a watertight bead 83 whichextends along the lower periphery of the reservoir 16. The hollowreservoir 16 is centrally apertured and sleeved at 84 to provide avertical passageway for an `assembly bolt extending therethrough, and issleeved at 86 to provide a vertical passageway for the control shaft 50of the thermostat 46 extending upwardly therethrough. The' junctionsbetween the sleeves 84 `and 86 and the respective parts 80 and 82 aremade watertight to prevent any leakage from the interior of thereservoir 16.

The upper portion 82 is also apertured at 88 and surrounded by afrusto-conical seat 90 which is adapted for receiving and centering adepending portion of the handle that is hereinafter described. Arearward portion of the seat 90 is notched at 91 to accommodate aportion of the water pump means that is hereinafter described.

The bottom 82 of reservoir 16 carries thereon a tting 92 directly belowthe aperture 88, `and the fitting provides radial drain grooves 93 inthe upper surface thereof adjacent the bottom 82 and draining to a driptube. The lower portion of fitting 92 provides an annular seat por-:tion 94 below bottom plate 80 which is `adapted to cooperate with theannular frusto-coriical seat defined at l.the upper edge of tubular stud44 that extends upwardly from the sole plate 12. The iitting alsocarries a depending drip tube 96 through which water is adapted to bedispensed at a predetermined flow rate to the steamgenerating chamber38. It will be seen from FIGURE l that when parts are assembled the driptube 96 extends downwardly through tubular stud 44 into thesteamgenerating chamber 38. The upper end of the tube 96 serves `as. avalve seat adapted for cooperation with a needle-type flow control valvethat will hereinafter be described.

The reservoir 16 is supported at its forward end by engagement of thefitting 92 with the upper edge of the stud 44, and by support of therear edge of reservoir 16 upon the horizontal flange 72a formed at theupper end of the upstanding arm 72.

The shell 14, which is best seen in FIGURES l and 8, is a formed sheetsteel body, having -a lower edge 100 which is adapted to seat on lands64, 65 and 66 defined on sole plate 12, `and outwardly of shoulders 64a,65a, and 66a, so as to properly position the shell on the sole plate,with the water reservoir 16 enclosed therein. The shell 14 is providedWith a rear oblong aperture 102 for receiving therethrough a mouldeddepending stud formed on the handle, that Will be hereinafter described.The, shell is also formed with a forward circular aperture 104 forreceiving therethrough another depending moulded stud on the handle. Acentral aperture 105 provides for passage therethrough of the controlshaft means for the switch `46. Still further, `an `aperture 106surrounded by `a horizontal annular shoulder 108 provides for passagetherethrough of the shank of an assembly bolt, and the shoulder 108provides .a bearing surface for cooperation with the head of theassembly bolt. The shell is also formed to dene a forward flat portion110 having a pair of apertures 112 therethrough adapted to receive-therein mounting bolts whose heads engage the underside `of ilat I110and which are for securement of the shell 14 to the handle, `and la rearflat i114 having a single aperture 116 therethrough to provide for -arear mounting bolt that secures the shell to the handle. A portion ofthe shell rearwardly of aperture 105 is upwardly embossed at 118 andserves as -a retainer for a portion of the means that are used foractuating the temperature control -that is mounted in the handle, ashereinafter described.

- The handle 18 is a unitary body that is moulded from plastic anddefines a lower, laterally extending coverengaging part 120, `a forwardupwardly extending hollow post 122 (as best seen in FIGURE 1), alaterally extended hand grip portion 124 which connects to the upper endof the post 122, and a rear socket-forming post 126. The arrangement ofthe handle segments is such as to surround a hand-entry space 128, asbest vseen in FIGURE 1.

The underside of cover-engaging part 120 is provided with a pair oftapped forwardly-located apertures 130 and a .tapped rearwardly-locatedaperture 132 which are adapted to be respectively aligned with apertures112 and i116 in shell I14 to receive therein assembly bolts which securetogether the shell 14 :and handle `18. The rear assembly bolt 133 isseen in FIGURE l.

After the handle 18 and shell 14 are sub-assembled by bolts includingbolt 133, then this sub-assembly may be assembled with `the reservoir 16and sole plate 12, as shown in FIGURE 1, by means of assembly bolt Bwhich slidably extends through sleeve 84 and screws into tapped hole 68inthe sole plate. A lock washer 134 is preferably provided between thehead of assembly bolt B and annular shoulder 108 on shell 14.

The handle 18 is also formed with a depending oblong stud 135 which isadapted to extend through oblong aperture 102 in shell 14. The stud 135is provided with upwardly extending passageways 136 and y138 throughwhich the leads 58 and 60 are caused to extend to present the terminals59 and 61 at a point outwardly of the shell 14. The said passageways 136and 138 open at their upper ends into `a recess, or cavity, 140 definedin the rear side of socket-forming post 126. Within the cavity 140, thethreaded terminals 59 and 61 may be appropriately secured to the ends ofthe leads of a service cord (not shown).

Within the cavity 140 is an enlarged, tapped, mounting boss 142, -andthe cavity 140 is surrounded by structure which includes a pair oflateral sides that are slotted at 143 and 144. A moulded cover plate 146is provided, having a central bore 147 adapted to receive therethrough amounting bolt 148 that screws into boss 14'2 as is best seen inFIGURE 1. The cover carries an elongated tongue 150 on one side and ashorter -tongue 152 on the opposite side. The tongues 150 and 152 `areadapted to cooperate with slots 143 and 144 in the handle so that whenplate 146 is fully assembled one of slots 143 and 144 is fully closedwhile the other slot presents a circular opening through which theservice cord may extend; Since the cover plate 146 is symmetrical, itmay be reversed to provide the cord entry aperture as part of slot 143or as part of slot '144, as desired, thereby arranging the iron foreither right-hand or left-hand operation.

On 4the underside of the handle 18 there is defined a reduced socket orsleeve 154 (FIGURE l) for receiving the upper end of -a control tube156. The lower end of control tube 156 is internally splined totelescopically cooperate with the upper splined end of control shaft 50.There is also defined in the underside of handle 18 au enlarged recess158 (FIGURE 1) wherein is seated a chain pulley `160` that is carriedon, and movable with, control tube 156. The lower -side of pulley 160 isbounded by an enlarged plate 160a which overlies the chain that iscoiled, or Wound, upon the pulley 160. The plate 160e separates thechain `160 from a restoring helical spring 162 that surrounds controltube 156 below plate 160Q.

The underside of handle 18 is moulded -to define a depending V-shapedrib 164 that is spaced from an anchor plug 166 to define a V-shapedrecess 168. The recoil spring 162 is a helical spring, the inner end ofwhich is connected to the control tube 156 for movement there with, andthe other end of which is hook-shaped at 16211 and is entered throughrecess 168 to grippingly engage the anchor plug 166. When the handle 18is assembled on the cover shell 14, the upwardly embossed part 118 onshell 14 lies closely adjacent the lower edge of rib 164 and of anchor'plug 166, thereby preventing inadvertent dislocation of the hook 162eand of spring 162 from their assembly, as disclosed in FIGURES l and 10.

The cover-engaging part 120 of handle 18 is provided with an aperture170 through which access may be had .to the assembly bolt B that is bestseen in FIGURE 1. The cover plate 212 is preferably provided with springassembly tabs (not shown) which are adapted to extend through apertures172 defined in handle 18 to grippingly but removably secure cover plate22 to the handle. The cover plate 22 then overlies and shields therecess 154 and the aperture 170.

The handle 174 is also provided with a forwardly located tubular stud176 Ithat depends through aperture 104 in the cover shell 14. Thetubular stud 176 is provided with a fiusto-conical edge 178, as bestseen in FIGURE 1, for cooperation with the frustoaconical seat 90 in thewater reservoir 16. An annular sealing gasket 179 is provided betweensaid frusto-conical edges 178 and 90u Adjacent the rearmost extent ofthe tubular stud 176 there is rigidly positioned a pump body, generallyindicated at 180, which communicates through a delivery tube 182 to aspray-nozzle body, generally indicated at 184, the latter being mouldedwithin the handle 18 and extended outwardly forwardly therefrom.

A sheet metal cap 186 is carried on the forward end of handle 18, andthe forward nozzle portion 188 of spray nozzle 184 is threaded onto astud portion of nozzle 184 which projects through the handle 18 and thecover plate 186. The cover plate 186 also surrounds a central water-tillaperture, generally indicated at 190 in FIGURES 1 and 10.

The laterally opening water-till aperture 190 communicates with theinterior of the upright tubular stud 176 delined as part of hollowupright post 122 of handle 18. It is understood that water introducedinto aperture 190 with the iron tilted slightly upwardly about its heel32 will flow through tubular stud 176 into reservoir 16. The interiorwall 177 in hollow post 1,22 separates the portion of post 122 throughwhich water flows from the rearward hollow portion of post 122.

The upper portion of the handle 18, located forwardly of the hand-gripportion 24 and above the forward portion of hollow post 122, is a atsurface portion 192, having a central depressed region 194 within whichis positioned a chain pulley 196, as best seen in FIGURE 1. The upperside, or face, of the pulley 196 has a laterally extending arm 198formed integral therewith and having 7 a iinger-grippable knob 200mounted on the outer end thereof.

The pulley is arranged to pivot about a bearing portion 202 of a irstferrule 201, the lower end of said ferrule being threaded into acounterbored and tapped hole 204 in the handle 18. The upper end offerrule 201 is provided with an outwardly extending ange 206, theperipheral edges of which are provided with flats for gripping purposesand to afford tightening up as desired. A spring-type, bowed, frictionwasher 208 is positioned between the underside of flange 206 and theupper surface of pulley 196, and this arrangement provides means forvarying the friction between pulley 196 and washer 208 which is beingutilized to maintain the pulley in selected positions against therestoring bias of the spring 172 acting upon the temperature controlsleeve 156.

A segmented lflexible chain 210 connects the pulley 196 with the pulley160. It will be seen that the swing of arm 198 is limited to a range ofabout 180 degrees by reason of the upright walls 211 and `211a dened inthe handle 18. This swing of 180 degrees is within the arcuate spacingof the arms 54 and 55 on control shaft 50, so that a full range ofoperation of the control shaft 50 may be obtained through the remotepivotal movement of the arm 198. The chain 210 extends through apassageway 212 formed in the hollow post portion 122 of the handle 18,and, as best seen in FIGURE l, the chain 210 is caused to pass over asmoothly curved surface 214 in the interior of handle 18, as it runsfrom pulley 160` to 196.

It will be understood yfrom the foregoing that movement of the arm 198to selected positions will cause the control arm 156 and shaft 50 to bepivoted against the bias of helical spring 172 to a selected position,and the friction from friction washer 208 will maintain the controls intheir selected position against the bias of spring 162, the lbias ofspring 162 tending to maintain the chain 210 taut. The arrangement ofthe parts is such that the chain 210 is cause to pass laterally of theassembly bolt B and of the access aperature 170, as best seen in FIGUREl0.

The forwardmost portion of the handle 124 is formed with a rather deeprecess, or socket, 216 that is bounded by opposite spaced lateral walls217 and a rear wall 218. A metal bracket 220 is shaped to t within thesocket 216 and to have a portion thereof extending `forwardly to overliethe pulley 196. The bracket 220 is secured to the 'bottom of the socket216 by means of a mounting screw 222. The forwardly extending portion ofbracket 220 is apertured at 224 to register with the central aperture offerrule 201, and is provided with turned-down spacer tabs 225 which spanbeyond the edges of flange 206 of ferrule 201. The rearward portion ofbracket 220 is provided with upwardly extending spring tabs 226 havingraised bumps 226a adapted for releasably gripping a cover panel that ispress fit thereinto, as hereinafter described.

There is provided a second ferrule 228 having a threaded portion 229that extends through aperture 224 and screws into the upperfemale-threaded portion of the first ferrule 201. The second ferrule 228is provided with an outwardly extending flange 230 provided withperipheral edges that have been ilatted for gripping. A spring-type,bowed, washer 231 is disposed between the underside of flange 230 andthe upper surface of bracket 220, and operates to maintain the ferrule228 at selected positions.

A flow control stem member, generally indicated at 232, is provided,having a tapered needle valve 234 dened at the lower end, adapted forcooperation with the upper end of the drip tube 96 which is part of theconduit means for feeding water from the reservoir 16 to thesteam-generating chamber in the sole plate 12 below the reservoir. Whenthe stem 232 is in its lowermost position, the needle valve 234 entersthe upper portion of drip tube 96 and engages the inner peripherythereof to seal off the water reservoir 16 from the steam-generatingchamber 38. When the stem 232 is in a raised position, there isestablished an annular flow passageway from reservoir 16 into drip tube96, through which water will ow at a pre-selected rate to thesteam-generating chamber 32 in the sole plate 12.

The control means for selectively opening and closing the water conduitmeans, by maintaining the flow control stem 232 at selected open orclosed ow positions, includes a shoulder formed on an intermediateportion of stem 232 and having a washer 238 seated thereagainst; a coilspring 240 slid onto stem 232 and abutting Washer 238 at its lower end;a second washer 242 slidable on stem 232 and engaging the upper end of`spring 240; and a sealing gasket 244 above washer 242. The washer 242under the bias of spring 240 is adapted to compress the sealing gasket244 against an abutment surface of the handle means 18, and the upperportion of stem 232 passes through a bore 246 in the handle 18 and thenthrough the central bore of rst `ferrule 201, and through the centralbore of the second ferrule 202 to extend above the second ferrule 202.

The upper portion of stem 232 is attened, as seen at 248, and isprovided with an aperture 250 extending therethrough, normal to theflats and transverse of the longitudinal axis of stem 232. A bifurcated,moulder toggle member, generally indicated at 252, has a central recessinto which the flattened upper portion 248 of stem 232 extends. A headedpivot pin 254 passes through apertures 253 in toggle member 252 whichapertures `are in register with bore 250 in stem member 232, therebypivotally connecting the toggle member to the ow control stem.

There is provided a centrally apertured, formed, valve stem lift plate256 that is positioned between the second ferrule 228 and the togglemember 252. Although the greater portion of plate 256 is flat, a centralportion ythereof is crimped, or bent, to provide an upturned dwell ridge258 which runs transverse the axis of the central apeiture therein andon opposite sides of said aperture, and said ridge is adapted tocooperate with appropriate spaced crotches formed in the lower edge oftoggle member 252. The toggle member 252 is formed with two crotches 260and 262 which are spaced different distances from the axis of the pivotpin 254. This arrangement provides that when the dwell ridge 258 isseated in the crotch 262, then the axis of pin '254 is spaced furtherfrom the dwell ridge 258 than when the dwell ridge 258 is seated withincrotch 260. This arrangement provides two positions for the needlevalves 234 relatives to the drip tube 96, the lowerrnost position ofneedle valve 234 being the closed valve position, and the upper positionof needle valve 234 being the open valve position, wherein water flow isestablished from the reservoir 16 to the steamgenerating chamber 38.

The toggle member 252 is provided with laterally extending and upwardlyprojecting spaced arms 264 and 266. The arrangement is such that whenarm 264 is depressed to pivot the toggle 252 about the axis of pin 254,then the crotch 262 is moved into engagement with the upturned dwellridge 258, and this operates to raise the needle valve 234 and set theiron for a steam operation. When the arm 266 is depressed to move thecrotch 260 about the pivot pin 254 into engagement with the upturneddwell ridge 258, then the needle valve 234 is in its lowermost position,which prevents flow of water to the sole plate and, thus, the iron canbe used as a dry iron.

The moulded control-cover panel 20 is located above the hollow uprightpost `122 through which extends the upright stem member 232 and withinwhich is positioned the spray pump and nozzle 184 heretofore referredto. The panel 20 is provided with a semi-circular forward wall 268which, when assembled, is spaced above the flat surface 192 formed inthe handle 18. This is best seen in FIGURE l, wherein the cover panel 20is spaced above the wall 192 to define a horizontal slot 269 withinwhich the arm 1.98 may be swung as the temperature is selectivelyvaried. The semicircular wall 268 carries thereon an indicia strip 270that :nay be adhesively attached, and which designates thereon the typeof material that may be ironed with the temperature that is beingobtained through the setting of the switch 46 through the use of thecontrol arm y'198. This setting of control arm 1918 is readily observedbecause the control knob 286 is positioned adjacent and forward `of theselected indicia on the indicia strip 278.

The cover panel 2'@ is also provided in its upper surface with apertures272 and 274 through which the arms 264 and 266 will respectivelyproject, as the toggle member 252 is swung to the steam or dry position.Appropriate indicia, as seen in FIGURE 4, is provided adjacent theapertures 272 and 274 to advise the operator `of the condition beingobtained within the iron.

The control cover panel 2li is also provided with rearwardly extendingside walls 276 which t into the socket 216 closely adjacent the sidewalls 217 of the socket. The side walls 276 are each provided with avertically extending recessed portion 278 having a dimple 2780 thereinfor cooper-ation respectively with the upstanding tabs 226 having bumps226a thereon. This arrangement provides resilient gripping means betweenthe bracket 22()` and the cover panel 20, so that the cover panel 2o maybe releasably mounted in the socket 216 provided therefor, and the coverpanel then operates to conceal the operative mechanism heretoforedescribed. The cover panel 2@ is also provided with an enlarged centralaperture 288 for receiving therein a push button control 282 for spraymeans whose operation will be described hereinafter.

Turning now to the mechanical pump-and-spray mechanism, which is bestdisclosed in FIGURES l, 5 and 1G, said spray mechanism includes the pump180 that is rigidly carried by the handle 18 and is adapted to extenddownwardly into the reservoir 16, with the intake for the pump 180disposed closely adjacent the bottom of the reservoir adjacent theregion wherein water enters through tting 92 for movement through driptube 96 to the steam-generating chamber 38.

The pump 180 includes a cylinder 298, defining a pump chamber 292therein within which a piston 294 is adapted to be reciprocated. Thepiston carries an -ring type packing 296 which prevents leakage andinsures development of the desired spray pressure. The piston 294carries an upwardly extending piston rod, or stem, 298 which slidablyextends through a reduced sleeve 380 that extends upwardly from cylinder290. The upper end of rod 298 extends above the upper terminal edge ofsleeve 300 and a coil spring 302 is positioned between the edge ofsleeve 300 and a washer, or lock ring, 304 carried by rod 298. Thelength of rod 298 extending above sleeve 300 is suicient to accommodatethe stroke of the piston 294 yand the compression of the coil spring382.

At the lower end of the cylinder 29u there is secured, in watertightrelation, a pump base, or fitting having a downwardly extendingpassageway 306 within which is positioned a ball check valve 308 thatrests and .seals against a truste-conical seat 3111 that surrounds areduced, central, intake aperture 312 in sleeve part 313 that extendsdownwardly fro-m pump 1841 within the water reservoir 16. The delivery,or connector, tube 182 opens laterally into passageway 306 at a pointabove the ball valve 308 and spaced from the opposite wall.

The upper end of delivery tube 182 connects to spray nozzle 184 whichincludes a hollow spray nozzle connector 314 to which is threadablyconnected a tubular nozzle body 316 having a reduced flow passageway 318communicating with the interior of hollow connector 314. A second ballvalve 320 is positioned within an enlarged portion of tubular body 316and is normally biased by a coil spring 322' toward a frusto-conicalvalve seat 324 that surrounds the reduced ow passageway 318. One end ofspring 322 abuts ball 320 and the other end is seated in the counterbore326 of a pressure plug 325 that is removably tted into the outer end ofbody 316. The counterbore 326 commanioates with a reduced passageway 328in plug 325 that, in turn, communicates with radial cross-passages 338in the wall of plug 325'. The passages 33t) open outwardly to anenlarged bore portion 332 of body 316 which communicates with aplurality of cross-passages 334 that are formed in the rear face ofspray disc G35 and which communicate with a central spray dischargeoutlet 336 through disc 335. The passages 334 are offset from the axisof outlet 336, as seen in FIGURE 5A, and serve to give a swirling motionto the water, which assists in effecting a tine spray from nozzle 184.The disc 33S is held in position against the terminus of tubular body316 by means of an annular nozzle part 188 that is screwed onto themale-threaded tip of part 316. The tubular part 316 has an outwardlyextending flange 338 formed thereon which is adapted to cooperate withhandle 13 to position and retain nozzle 184 on handle 18.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should be understoodthat, assuming the pump chamber 292, the tube 182, and nozzle 184 to befilled with water, the selective manual depression of srod, or stem, 298will force water under pressure to unseat the second ball valve 320against the bias of spring 322, and the water under pressure will owthrough the communicating passageways of nozzle 184 to be discharged ina line spray from the nozzle opening 336. Because of the fact that thespray nozzle is pointed forwardly and downwardly, as best seen in FIGUREl, the spray from the spray means will be discharged forwardly of thetoe of the iron onto material to be ironed. Upon the release of downwardpressure upon stem 293, the spring 382 will restore the piston 294 toits upper position vand this will immediately cause the second ballvalve 320 to be reseated, and this will maintain the passagewaysupstream of valve 320` lilled with water, but the suction effected byupward movement of piston 294 will cause the first ball Valve 36S toraise and water will be drawn upwardly through the passageway 312 intubular sleeve part 313 yand then through the passageway 386 into thepump chamber 292. When the stem 298 is again pressed downwardly, thefirst check valve 308 immediately reseats and the spray is againeifected as aforesaid.

The sleeve 300 of the pump cylinder 290 is imbedded, or press t, intothe plastic handle so that `the pump body is rigidly carried by thehandle. The means for actuating the stem 293 includes an upright pushrod 34@ having an offset as seen in FIGURE l, andthe lower end of rod348 is positioned yto engage the upper end of rod 298, and the upperportion of push rod 348 is 'adapted to extend lthrough an aperture 342in bracket 220. The push button 282 has a Vertical recess 344 formedtherein for receiving the upper end of the push rod 348, so that manualpressure applied downwardly on fthe push button 282 is transmittedthrough push rod 340 to the operating stern 298 of the pump means. Thefore- 'going arrangement thus locates the conduit control rod 232 andthe pump control rod 34d adjacent each other in the substantially hollowpost 122 of the handle 18.

The push button 282 is formed with an outwardly extending ilange 282gwhich engages the underside of the top of the portion of thecontrol-cover panel 20 that surrounds the aperture 280, therebypreventing dislocation of the push button 282.

From the foregoing it will be understood that operation of themechanical pump-and-spray mea-ns is completely independent of the steammeans, so that water may be sprayed lfrom the spray means regardless ofwhether there is any steam pressure generated. The spray may be usedwith the iron operating as a dry iron or as a steam iron. By disposingthe inlet 312 to pump 180 within the water reservoir 16 spaced laterallyadjacent to but above the entrance to the water conduit epesses means,there is provided a simple means for determining the status of thesupply of Water in reservoir 16, because if, upon actuation of pushybutton 282, no spray is forthcoming, the operator may assume that thereservoir 16 needs refilling. Clearly, the arrangement provides that thesupply of water available to the pump will be exhausted before thesupply of water available to the steamgenerating means is exhausted.

It will further be observed that conveniently the upright control rods232 and 340, respectively for controlling the conduit means and foractuating the sp-ray pump, are disposed adjacent each other `and thatthe push-button type controls therefor, including button 282 `and arms264 and 266, are loc-ated on the exterior of the iron closely adjacenteach other and protrude above the upper lateral surface of the handlemeans which includes the cove-r panel 20.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention and, therefore, it is intended in thel -appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim `as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

l. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; awater reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure and positioned abovesaid sole plate; selectively operable steam generating means forgenerating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including meansdefining a steam generating chamber that is wholly separate from saidwater reservoir, conduit means for feeding water from ladjacent thebottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber so `as topermit build-up of pressure in the steam generating chamber whileleaving the reservoir at atmospheric pressure, and heater means in heattransfer relation with said sole plate and said steam generatingchamber; and spray means independent of the said steam generating meansfor selectively spraying water from said water reservoir onto materialIto be ironed at any time regardless of whether the iron is being used`as a steam iron or as a dry iron, said spray means including a waterinlet disposed within the water reservoir spaced adjacent to theentrance to said conduit means and spaced `above the bottom of saidreservoir, so that when no spray is forthcoming from the spray meansupon actuation thereof, the operator may assume that the reservoir needsrefilling.

2. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; awater reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure and positioned abovesaid sole plate; selectively operable steam generating means forgenerating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including meansdefining a steam generating chamber that is wholly separate from saidwater reservoir, conduit means for `feeding water from adjacent thebottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber so as topermit buildup of pressure in the steam generating chamber while leavingthe reservoir iat atmospheric pressure, and heater means in heattransfer relation with said sole plate and said steam generatingchamber; and spray means independent of the said steam generating meansfor selectively spraying water from said water reservoir onto materialto be ironed at any time regardless of whether the iron is being used as`a steam iron or yas a dry iron, said spray means including a manuallyactuatable water pump, a water intake vfor said pump positioned withinthe water reservoir spaced ladjacent to the entrance to said conduitmeans and spaced above the bottom of said reservoir, so that when nospray is forthcoming from the spray means upon actuation thereof, theoperator may assume `that the reservoir needs refilling; -a firstupright control rod spring biased downwardly :toward a position forclosing said conduit means, a second upright control rod operativelyassociated with said water pump and spring biased upwardly normally `andadapted to be reciprocated vertically to selectively actuate said pumpto effect spraying of water, and said first and second control rodsbeing disposed adjacent each other iand having push button actuators attheir upper ends, with said actuators located on the exterior of theiron closely adjacent each other.

3. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; awater reservoir above said sole plate, said reservoir having a top withan access opening therein, so that the water in the reservoir ismaintained at atmospheric pressure; steam means for generating anddispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steamgenerating chamber that is separate from said water reservoir, conduitmeans through which water may be selectively fed from adjacent thebottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber, and heatermeans in heat transfer relation with the sole plate and said steamgenerating chamber; a handle means subassembly for said iron positionedabove said Water reservoir and including a generally upright post and agenerally laterally extending hand grip; spray nozzle means carried insaid upright post and spaced above said water reservoir and disposed forspraying water downwardly therefrom and forwardly of the sole plate; andwater pump means carried by said handle sub-assembly and including waterintake means which project downwardly from the handle means through theaccess opening into said reservoir to be spaced adjacent to the entranceto said conduit means and spaced above the bottom of said reservoir, sothat when no spray is forthcoming from the spray means upon actuationthereof, the operator may assume that the reservoir needs relling, andsaid pump means being operative to selectively ingest water from thereservoir and to pump same upwardly to said spray nozzle means spacedabove said reservoir for discharge therefrom.

4. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; awater reservoir above said sole plate, said reservoir having a top withan access opening therein, so that the water in the reservoir ismaintained at atmospheric pressure; steam means for generating anddispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steamgenerating chamber that is separate from said water reservoir, conduitmeans through which water may be selectively fed from adjacent thebottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber, and heatermeans in heat transfer relation with the sole plate and said steamgenerating chamber; a handle means subassembly for said iron positionedabove said Water reservoir and including a generally upright post and agenerally laterally extending hand grip; spray nozzle means carried insaid upright post and spaced above said water reservoir and disposed forspraying water downwardly therefrom and forwardly of the sole plate; andwater pump means carried by said handle sub-assembly and including waterintake means which project downwardly from the handle means through theaccess opening into said reservoir to be spaced adjacent to the entranceto said conduit means and spaced above the bottom of said reservoir, sothat when no spray is forthcoming from the spray means upon actuationthereof, the operator may assume that the reservoir needs refilling,said pump'means being operative to selectively ingest water from thereservoir and to pump same upwardly to said spray nozzle means spacedabove said reservoir for discharge therefrom, and a selectively operableow controller carried by the handle sub-assembly and projectingdownwardly through said access opening into the reservoir and positionedin ow-controlling association with said conduit means to said steamgenerating chamber.

5. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; awater reservoir above said sole plate; handle means for said ironincluding a generally upright hollow post and a generally laterallyextending hand-grip;

steam generating means for generating and dispensing steam from saidsole plate including means defining a steam generating chamber, conduitmeans for feeding water from said reservoir to said steam generatingchamber, and heater means in heat transfer relation with said sole plateand said steam generating chamber; and selectively settable thermostaticcontrol means lfor said heater means including a temperature-responsivecontrol positioned below said waterreservoir in heat-sensing relationwith said sole plate, an upright control shaft spaced laterally fromsaid upright hollow post and extending upwardly from saidtemperature-responsive control to above said water reservoir andcarrying a first pulley thereon, coil spring means normally biasing saidcontrol shaft in one direction, .stop means for limiting pivoting ofsaid control shaft in said one direction under the bias of said springmeans, a second pulley pivotally mounted on said handle means and havinga control arm extending Itherefrom, cable means passing through thehollow post of the handle means and interconnecting said first andsecond pulleys, so that manual movement of the control arm causes thesecond and first pulleys to move in unison, and friction meanscooperating with said second pulley to maintain said second pulley inselected positions against the bias of said spring means.

6. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; awater reservoir above said sole plate; cover means secured to said soleplate and generally enclosing said reservoir; handle means for said ironconnected to said cover means and defining a lower laterally extendingcover engaging part, .an upright hollow post, and a laterally extendinghand-grip portion connecting to the upper end of said post and spacedabove said lower part of the handle means; and selectively settablethermostatic control means for said iron including atemperatureresponsive control positioned below said reservoir inheatsensing relation with said sole plate, an upright shaft spaced fromsaid hollow post and extending from said temperature-responsive controlto above said reservoir and through said cover means, spring meansnormally biasing said shaft in one direction, a first pulley on saidshaft between said cover means and said lowerlaterally extending part ofthe handle means, a second pulley pivotally mounted in said handle meansadjacent the 14 hand-grip portion of the handle means and above saidhollow post, cable means interconnecting the first and second pulleysand extending through said hollow post, and friction means cooperatingwith said second pulley to maintain said second pulley in selectedpositions against the bias of said spring means.

7. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; awater reservoir above said sole plate; steam generating means forgenerating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including meansdefining a steam generating chamber in heat transfer relation with afirst portion of said sole plate, conduit means for feeding water fromsaid reservoir to said steam generating chamber, heater means in heattransfer relation With said sole plate and steam generating chamber, andan upright push rod for selectively opening or closing said conduitmeans; and thermostatic control means for said iron including atemperature-responsive control in heat-sensing relation with a secondportion of said sole plate spaced laterally from said portion of thesole plate adjacent the steam generating chamber, an upright controlshaft for said temperature-responsive control spaced laterally of saidupright push rod, a first pulley on said control shaft, a second pulleyarranged coaxially of said push rod, cable means interconnecting saidfirst and second pulleys, a selectively movable control arm for saidsecond pulley, spring means tending to pivot the control shaft in onedirection, and friction means coaxial of said push rod and cooperatingwith the second pulley for maintaining the control arm at a selectedsetting against the bias of said spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,216,460 Kilgore Feb. 20, 1917 2,674,054 Maykemper Apr. 6, 19542,729,904 Maykemper Jan. 10, 1956 2,741,044 Maykemper Apr. l0, 19562,755,574- Herman uly 24, 1956 2,802,289 Hoecker Aug, 13, 1957 2,817,169Schott Dec. 24, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,206,984 France Aug. 31, 1959

